I have no doubt that we're living in the last days and the words of Joel, the prophet, are alive in the earth.

No, what you see this morning was predicted centuries ago by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy.[1]

Pray that our students open their hearts like never before to the Holy Spirit and embrace this outpouring that has been promised to them. Stand in the gap and intercede for these young people who will soon become the leaders of our city, state, church and nation. Ask God to fill them to overflowing with His presence and consume them with passion to see God do a mighty work through them before they return to the schools and colleges. I pray their own transformed lives will speak to others of God's power and grace.

[1]       Acts 2:16-18 nlt

In the height of your best day ever, or at the bottom of your worst situation—He is with you, so I encourage you to continue to believe and have a deep expectancy for what God desires to do in your life over these coming weeks.

It’s time to look for God; to recognize that He is near and find Him in the midst of LIFE as it happens. Don’t let fear of a pending storm keep you from moving into what God has prepared for you this New Year. Refuse to allow the circumstances of today to steal your promise.

Discover His will and heart these next few days. Position your heart and mind for the new adventure God has began with you. Continue forward in faith—believing that what God has promised He will deliver!

Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, I will let you find me, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:12-14 gwt

People come to Victory to receive food, clothing and medical care. Now we can go out to them. In Matthew 25 Jesus said, “For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”[1]

Jan told the congregation, “I have been gripped the last two months with the thought, and we are going to minister to Jesus.” Every time we touch the least of them, we're going to touch the very heart of God.

I am so thankful that I serve the Lord with a people that are willing to get out of their seats and into the streets. Thank you for doing your part—whatever it is the Lord has called you to do to minister to him each and every day.

[1]       Matthew 25:35-40 niv

He came along just when I needed him. He became a spiritual father to me. When I didn't believe in myself—he believed in me. He saw something in me and he called it out of me with his words and his faith. I didn't have to ask; I knew he believed I could. Sometimes I thought he had enough faith for both of us to get me through. He and his wife, Janice, modeled life for Jan and me. They poured their own lives into us and I am so thankful.

Wherever you are in life, you don't have to do it alone. Someone, somewhere has gone through what you're going through. They have the wisdom and the knowledge to help you navigate the road in front of you. They can stand in the gap for you. They can believe in you when you're not so sure of yourself. They have faith and courage to speak into your life to help you become who God already knows you are.

Maybe you are that person that God wants to send to bring someone up in the faith? Are you willing to be open and transparent? When God knits your heart to someone for a season or for a lifetime, the rewards are supernatural. I encourage you to let him use you to shape another life today.

For this purpose I am sending to you Timothy, who is my own dear and faithful son in the Christian life. He will remind you of the principles which I follow in the new life in union with Christ Jesus and which I teach in all the churches everywhere. 

1 Corinthians 4:17 GNT

I had thought I would just come to the office and pray for the fathers this Father's Day. I began to walk and pray and all of a sudden I felt God's presence—the presence of the Heavenly Father. There's a tradition to write a card to our fathers on Father's Day. I hadn't done that because my father is gone. But then a thought filled my mind as His presence filled the room—Without Father God, none of us would be here!

So I sat down with a new revelation of God's fatherhood. As a child writes a card to his daddy, I began to write an email of appreciation to my Heavenly Father. It probably sounds silly to you but I sent it. I have no doubt that the Father received it. It ministered to me personally to express how I felt about my relationship with the Father who has always loved me with an everlasting love.

Take some time this week and thank God for His Fatherhood in your life. Applaud Him because He is the greatest father of all.

“I'll be a Father to you; you'll be sons and daughters to me."

2 Corinthians 6:18 The Message

We weren’t anticipating what happened to us when we crossed paths with that person or that circumstance, but we look back and understand just how pivotal that encounter was in our lives. We didn’t necessarily have an expectation of it, but God used it to alter the course of our lives and maybe redirect us to our destiny.

I’ve had lots of life-changing encounters throughout my life. The first and certainly the most significant was when I found Christ. As you are reading this, I pray you have an encounter with the Lord today. Whatever you have need of, I believe God is ready to reach into your life right now. Maybe you need an encounter with the Healer. He can reach into the deep wounds, the dark disappointments and heal the deep pain in your heart. Maybe you need Him to break off the regrets that have been haunting you. He can help you let go of the “if's and only's and the ‘I would'ahs’ and ‘I should'ahs’ from your past.

You can experience a divine encounter with Him and before today is over you can know what you've needed to know. You can be freed from whatever has been trying to hold you back. Today is your day; today is His day. God has had a warrant for your arrest and he’s arresting you today to turn things around. It’s never going to be the same. Tell God you want it. There is a miracle that’s awaiting your expectation today.

Some promises require a process for God to get you from here to there. And while we were so excited about the promise, our struggle on the journey to the promise exposes the process required to get there. Do you find that your commitment, at this point, begins to waiver? We begin to ask God and ourselves questions: Did I really hear from God? God, are you sure? Is there any easier way?

Our humanness cries out for another way. We want to check the GPS and see if there's an easier way to arrive at the promise. It's not that we're rejecting God's will, but we're rejecting the way we have to go for His will to be realized in our lives. God, I want to do your will, but does it have to be this way?

Even Jesus questioned the process when he stopped in the Garden of Gethsemane. He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."[1]

A process precedes the promise and that's where we struggle most. When we hear what it's going to take to get there, it makes the journey difficult to embrace. When you reach the place of surrender—then the promise is assured. We can say in confidence and trust—not my will, Father, but yours.

[1] Matthew 26:39 nkjv

So, I was awakened by a demonic presence in the room. I wasn't afraid. I didn't wake up Jan and say, “Honey, pray! Do something.” I knew immediately what it was—the spirit of fear. And I knew the Lord wanted me to get up and confront this unwelcome intruder. He said, “He is attacking our sheep. And like the Good Shepherd, I got up and confronted the attacker. I rebuked his stronghold in the lives those I shepherd. I spiritually stood between you and the one who seeks to devour you. I prayed through and broke that stronghold in the spirit that night.

If you are harassed and assailed by a spirit of fear—don't feel like you're unspiritual. Don't think you don't have enough faith. This is a point of great struggle in the lives of many Christians. It is a powerful and effective tool of the enemy. BUT GOD... has not given you a spirit of fear, but He has given you a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). And he wants you free from the enemy's lies that try to cause you to fear.

Here are 8 keys to use daily to help you unlock the prison doors of fear in your life:

Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, "Remove the stone." The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a stench. He's been dead four days!" Jesus looked her in the eye. "Didn't I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" Then, to the others, "Go ahead, take away the stone." I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me." Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him loose." That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him.

John 11:38-45 msg

Today when people are confronted with Jesus' resurrection, they have the same two choices that were presented to the people who lived on that first Easter Sunday—believe that Jesus rose from the dead, or deny the truth, ignore it, or try to explain it away.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to spread the joy of the resurrection and the great hope of just what his resurrection means to you and me. Only he could give you and me the gift of eternal salvation and new life. I am so thankful he chose to follow through with God's plan to redeem us. Aren't you?

The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. Matthew 28:5-7 MSG

As well, I would appreciate it if you would send a letter or email to the Mayor thanking him for his bold stance to call our church to pray.
 
These are exciting times, as you know, and all of us have joined our hearts together in prayer and we're seeing the answers to those prayers. God is doing a unique thing in this city. So thank you again personally for the passion you have for our Lord's kingdom and for its advancement across this city and this region.
 

 
Here is his address:         The Honorable Robert E. Walkup
                                         Mayor of Tucson
                                         255 West Alameda Street
                                         Tucson, Arizona 85701
                                          E-Mail Mayor Walkup
 
 
By His grace and for His glory,
 
Pastor Zane and Jan

Rain takes me to a place in my time with God, reminding me of His glory. It’s a sign to me that we live each day under an open heaven in which God continues to pour out His Spirit on us. He gives us each day His favor and His blessing.

I pray that you experience God’s presence today in a fresh new way—like the refreshing that rain brings to the dry and thirsty desert.

Deuteronomy 32:2 says, My teaching will fall on you like rain; my speech will settle like dew. My words will fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants (nlt).

[1] Beecher, Henry Ward. (1892), Eyes and Ears.

Sometimes Jan gives me a list of things she’d like for me to do. It’s a list of projects, and I don’t always get them done. I’m so glad that God always finishes what he starts. He builds our lives as long as we allow him to. He took my broken life and started a process more than 4 decades ago and made me brand new.

He’s in the process of making you and me who we were meant to be. Sometimes we can only see the brokenness of the hard places in our lives; but I’ve experienced His faithfulness at every turn in my own life. And as a pastor, I’ve watched him transform the most desperate of situations into a beautiful masterpieces.

Wherever you find yourself today, life up your heart and believe. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears[1].

God knows your heart—He knows what you’re crying out for. He is ready to divide the waters and move mountains on your behalf. Stop worrying about what you see going on around you and start believing what He has said. He will answer you. Remember, it’s a process and He is the great Finisher. Let Him complete the work that He started in you. Take a step and believe Him today.

[1] Philippians 1:6 msg

Our prayer center is the heart—the center of every thing that happens on campus. What takes place in the Prayer Center 24 hours a day; seven days a week provides oxygen to the life of the church, like our own breathing provides oxygen to the blood in our bodies.

Everything we do flows out of prayer personally and corporately. If you don’t have a time set aside each day to spend time with God in prayer, put it on your schedule for 30 days and see what God will do in your life.

I also encourage you to get involved and be a part of what God is doing by becoming a part of 24/7 prayer. Check it out by stopping at Guest Services for more information, or send us an email at vwcaz.org.

Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2 NLT

As Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and his allies, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought him bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.  And blessed be God Most High, who has helped you conquer your enemies." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. (Genesis 14:17-21 NLT)

Melchizedek is quite a mystery. He just appeared one day in the life of Abraham and was never heard of again, although the story has become a historical moment and is told in the New Testament in the 7th chapter of Hebrews and mentioned in Psalm 110.

I find it interesting that these two men were strangers to each other, but they shared a passion to serve the same God and so their hearts were united. Melchizedek was a priest of the first order—a leader with heart to encourage others to follow God with all their heart. He reminds Abraham that it was God that delivered his enemies into his hands.

At this point Abraham honored God with a tenth of his plunder by giving his tithe to God through the priest, Melchizedek. This encounter is a wonderful example of Abraham, the father of our faith setting an example of the tithe for us to follow today.

Melchizekek was a forerunner to Jesus, our faithful high priest—some even believe he was Jesus appearing to Abraham. Take time this week to read Melchizedek’s story in Hebrews 7. I believe it will bless you.'

There are also nighttimes in our lives. Some people call them night seasons or times of darkness—those unwanted, uninvited circumstances that travel into our lives and crowd out all the light. It’s in those nighttimes when we can lose our way and forget that light dispels the darkness.

It’s in those dark times that we must hold tight to the light of God’s love. God is not just God of the days—he’s also God in the nighttimes of our lives. Darkness can never overcome the light. God is not limited by night. Remember, the Israelites left Egypt during the night. The power of God released Paul from his jail cell in the middle of the night.

God still works the nightshift. Are you in a dark time that has crowded out the light? Hold fast to the confession of your faith. Don’t give up; dawn is a lot closer than you think. Speak to the darkness of your circumstances and believe again—let the God of your nighttime turn it around.

Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 nlt

But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress. Psalm 59:16 NLT

At the end of the year last year, so many people in our congregation were hurting. One Wednesday night I asked for those who were without jobs to come forward for prayer and the aisles filled up and overflowed. That affected our finances as a church as well and we were really standing in faith at the close of the year to see our needs as a church met as well as the needs of those in our congregation that were hurting financially.

Today we can live in the land of Goshen. In Exodus 8 and 9, Egypt was facing the ten plaques that came upon the people of that land as a result of Pharaoh’s refusal to let God’s people go. The Israelites—God’s people—were held captive within Egypt as slaves to the Egyptian people. Their town within the empire was the land of Goshen. As you read these chapters you see that each plaque came upon the Egyptians but the Israelites where spared because of their covenant with God. When darkness fell in Egypt, there was light in the land of Goshen. When hail fell from the sky in Egypt, there was no hail in Egypt. God’s hand was upon his people and his hand is upon us—his children today.

No matter where we are, we have to admit, God has been good to us. God multiplies our seed for kingdom purposes. He is always faithful to bring the breakthrough that is needed in our lives individually and corporately as his body. The Lord delivered what we needed to pay our bills at the end of the year. I believe you are also experiencing results to your faith in the areas of your life that you have needs.

The Psalmist speaking to God says, For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13 niv)

God planned all my days—my purpose—before I was ever created. He knew my destiny long before I was conceived. The same is true with you. Isn’t that amazing? No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, God has brought you through to this day. Embrace the fact that you are not on this planet by chance. You were not an accident. You have a destiny and God wants to go with you as you travel His journey he set before you. Know today, you were created on purpose!

I played all the scenarios in my head. If he turns those lights on, everyone is going by saying “Ha! Ha! He’s getting a ticket!” I know, I’ve done it too. I’m sitting there waiting to turn left and he flipped his lights on. Thankfully I saw a driveway and pulled in—unfortunately it was the parking lot of another church. Still hearing those voices—Yeah! That pastor from Victory…saw him getting a ticket in another church parking lot. Can you imagine?

I handed him my license and said, “I’m sorry. My mind was preoccupied.” He took my license and registration and went back to his car. It took him a long time to come back to my truck. And you know what that usually means—a ticket.

And I’m thinking, traffic school, more insurance…when he said, “Here’s what I’m going to do for you.” In that instant hope arose—THERE IS A GOD! I’m listening—hanging on his every word. My heart is tempted to smile, but not just yet.

He said, “You need to get focused. I’m going to give you a warning. You need to slow it down.” I thanked him. And then when he walked away I rejoiced. I deserved a ticket. I was guilty. But this officer granted me mercy. And that’s what God does for us when we come to him.

That’s what we need this year. We are all vulnerable, but whatever offense we’ve committed, we can bring it to the throne of our Heavenly Father. I’m so thankful for his mercy today.

I encourage you to study the context in which each of these scriptures were written and even commit them to memory if the Lord impresses you to do so. I believe they will provide you with perspective for this year of surprises.

You can also find our "This Is The Year" declaration here.

My purpose for writing you is to invite you to join with me in writing a letter to our Governor and communicating to her how deeply thankful we are for her willingness to sign the "proclamation" calling for the people of Arizona to fast and prayer for a turnaround in our state's economy. I believe it would be so very appropriate for us to affirm her for the strong stand she has taken. Also, I encourage you to continue to pray for Governor Brewer and her leadership team. In fact, be sure to let her know you are praying.

In spite of the challenging times in which we are living, the Lord is still in charge.  I have such an expectancy as to what He is doing and about to do!

Here is her address:  The Honorable Jan Brewer

                                Governor of Arizona

                                1700 West Washington

                                Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2888

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Zane

Today I wanted to share some things in the Word of God—things that God has spoken about you. Take some time and really think about these things. Imagine yourself sitting in your Heavenly Father’s presence and He’s speaking these words directly to you. Place them like post-it notes to the front of your thoughts as you go about your day today.

• I have loved you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
• I will do what I have spoken. (Numbers 23:19)
• I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
• I will keep you from falling. (1 Peter 5:10)
• I have chosen you as my own special treasure. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
• I can do more than you can ask or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
• My compassion for you never fails. (Lamentations 3:21)

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

Lamentations 3:21-24 nkjv

When I lived in California, there was a certain tree that was hundreds of years old. When I looked at it; I saw myself. It was a representation of me. Somehow this tree was an encouragement to me. If I felt frustrated, doubting myself, or even if God got it right—I would find myself driving. And I would eventually arrive in front of that tree. It was an inspiration—and a hope to me.

I would look at that tree still standing and think to myself; I’m going to make it. This tree made it—it’s still standing. I’m still standing and I’m going to make it. God provided for this tree and He’ll provide for me. I would remind myself that I’m all in! I trust in the One who is responsible for everything. All I have to do is abide. I would walk away from that tree committed to continue to wait, expecting God to do the work.

Can you say that you’re all in today? Keep abiding!

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

Psalm 1:3 amp

First, put on the whole armor of God so that you can stand against the snares, traps and deceptions of the enemy. When you’re prepared, aware and alert, you can’t be fooled by his schemes.[1]

Just recently a lizard got into the house. Someone had left the door open and that creepy little thing was running all over the house looking for a place to stay. If I hadn’t left the door open, he never would have found his way into our home. Don’t give the devil and invitation, but live your life according to God’s commands giving no entrance to your enemy.[2]

Secure our spiritual defenses by paying attention to what you see and hear. There are just some things that I don’t need to look at. Watch what you watch! [3] Guard your mind—what you see and hear eventually finds it’s way into your thoughts.[4

And finally, be careful what you say. Jesus is the high priest of your confession. Just as God’s words framed the world, your words also have power. Be faithful with them to speak faith instead of fear. Don’t speak deceitful, idle words but allow God to honor the truth that comes from your mouth.[5]

Be careful today to care for the entryways of your spiritual place. Refuse to give the devil place and honor God with your actions, thoughts, intents and words today!

[1] Ephesians 6:11

[2] Ephesians 4:22-27

[3] Proverbs 4:19-27

[4] 2 Corinthians 10:10

[5] Proverbs 4:24

Chapter one in the book of Habakkuk begins with the prophet Habakkuk burdened. He asked the Lord about it: O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.[1]

God has shown Habakkuk some things and he wants answers to the heaviness of his heart. We all carry some heavy weights in our heart, mind and spirit with the things in our lives that concern us.

In the next chapter, I find great comfort in the words of Habakkuk when he says; I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.[2] He sets a great example for us in how he prepares himself to hear God’s reply.

Position: Habakkuk assumes a certain position so he can stand watch. He chooses a high place on the wall of his city that provides him with a better perspective. Our position in prayer can give us a better perspective. When we take our position as believers seated in high places with Christ Jesus, we can see our circumstances from a heavenly perspective.[3]

Perseverance: Then Habakkuk waits and watches for the Lords reply. He poured his heart out in chapter one and his answer doesn’t come until chapter two. We have to be willing to wait on the Lord for the answer in His time. We need to remember that we can’t always see the work He’s doing behind the scenes on our behalf. I’ve found it can take a little time to get things in place, to work things together for our good.

Poise: Habakkuk is poised with an open heart, ready to receive whatever it is the Lord will say to him. He asks himself, “What will I answer when I am corrected?” He checks his attitude, carefully weighing how he might respond to whatever answer the Lord provides. Do you ever need to check your attitude before you hear from God?

Pliability:  Finally, Habakkuk is committed to see his problem through to the end by whatever means God wants to provide. He’s open to doing it God’s way. So often we want God’s answer to fit into our plans. We can become so bent on the situation playing out a specific way, that we miss the answer God wants to give us. We must remain flexible to God’s desire for our lives.

Be encouraged today that when you go to the Lord, expect an answer. Position yourself to hear from the Lord and remember, God always answers.

[1] Habakkuk 1:2-3 nkjv

[2] Habakkuk 2:1-2 nkjv

[3] Ephesians 2:6

Jesus said, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV)

I want to challenge you to live the confession you’re confessing. God framed the world with his words—His words of faith created the substance that brought the world into existence. We are created in his image and we can frame our world with our words. The problem is we have made our words idle and meaningless.

God wants to put power behind our words, but we need to be faithful with the words we say before He empowers them. We say things like, “That kills me! That blows me away!” Something isn’t really killing you. It’s an idle saying. If faith was behind it, whatever it was would kill you and you would have an expectation of being blown down the street in a tornado or hurricane.

I know you probably think I’m being silly, but in order for there to be power in your words, God needs to be able to take them at face value. Do you really mean what you say? If you’re believing God for healing or financial increase and you stand in faith believing and confessing, expecting your words to be powerful one minute—but then the next minute you say something you don’t mean, how can you expect to receive what you’re believing for?

I want to encourage you this week to take an account of idle words. Get an accountability partner and when you say something idle that you don’t really mean, have your accountability partner ask you a question—Do you really want to have what you say? Do you want me to agree with you in prayer for that?

This simple little exercise will open your eyes to see just how powerful or powerless your words can be. Become accountable with your words. Begin to live the confession you’re confessing. When you become faithful with your words, then God can trust you to be responsible with the things you say and put his power behind your words. You will experience faith-filled results to the things you’re confessing and believing God for.

The other day I saw a man with a sign I hadn’t seen before. It said, “Life’s been hard. Will somebody please help? Externally I could see the harsh life he’d experienced all over his face. In just a few words on a piece of cardboard, he’d told me his story.

I pastor a congregation of stories. Stories of heartache, failure and broken dreams. We all have events in our lives that we’ve lingered over with sadness in our hearts. Many have given up on the hope that their story could ever be better. They’ve lost all reason to expect life to change.

Christmas is a time to hope again. The inspiration of the Christmas season softens hearts and opens the door—maybe just a little—to believe once more. Jesus came to change your story. He didn’t come to re-write it, but to give you the opportunity to begin your story again.

It doesn’t matter what you were or where you were, to God. When he steps in your story can change. He brought us out of a trashcan and seated us in heavenly places. See yourself with a new story—start believing today.

Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Ephesians 2:4-6 msg

Hudson Taylor made a profound statement:

If we want to see mighty wonders and divine power and grace

right in the place where we live, let us answer God’s standing challenge –

Call to me and I will answer thee and show you great and mighty things.

A middle-aged lady was going through the supermarket and she wanted to be available to be used by the Holy Spirit like Hudson Taylor said. She was a quiet lady, very reserved but she kept noticing another lady sitting down at the pharmacy.

She had been up and down this certain aisle several times, and each time the Holy Spirit would say, “Just go ask her how she’s doing.” And she’d say, “No, what if she tells me to shut up? What if she tells me it’s none of my business?

Finally she said to the lady, “Are you doing ok?”

The lady replied, “Oh, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I haven’t been able to sleep for six or seven months. I can’t sleep but two hours a night. It’s driving my husband crazy.” She’s pouring it all out to her. And the Holy Spirit says, “Ask her if you can pray for her. So, she says, “Could I pray for you?”

And the little old lady said, “I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”

She just prayed a simple prayer. She said, “Lord, you know what she’s struggling with. I just pray you just touch her. And she said, “I’ll continue to pray for you.”

The other woman thanked her, and as she started to walk away the Lord said, “Give her your phone number.” So she says, “I just wanted to give you my phone number and if you ever need anything.” She handed her the phone number and left.

For two seconds, she took two steps on the water—did something she never did before. She got out of the boat. The next morning she gets a phone call early in the morning.  “Is this Joan? Joan, you met my wife yesterday at the store.”

“Yes, is everything alright?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t slept all night.”

“What happened,” Joan pressed.

“Well, my wife slept all night and I couldn’t sleep thinking maybe she died or something because she hasn’t slept all night for months. What did you do to my wife?”

“I just prayed a prayer.”

The man said, “Well, would you mind coming to my house and talking to me about what you did to my wife?”

Long story short - both the husband and the wife came to faith in Christ, and began to come to a church because somebody was willing to get out of the boat.

You got to contend for Christianity to be what it’s meant to be – you’ve got to be willing to take a risk and get out in the marketplace. Marketplace miracles, that’s what God wants to do.

Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and contend for the ministry of miracles?

You will never walk on water while you’re still sitting in the boat. Just sitting in the boat will never enable you to walk on water.

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:26-29 nkjv

Key #2

Decide to develop a strong sense of daring and a willingness to take risks.

We’ve got to get to a point in the Body of Christ where we are willing to take some risks. That means that you have to move out of your comfort zone, go to your neighbor, and say, “I’ve heard you’ve been sick for weeks now. Would you mind if I pray for you?”

What if they say no? 99.9% of the time they’re not going to say no. Maybe it’s a friend, maybe it’s a coworker, maybe it’s somebody else you don’t even know, but you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to that person.

When the Body of Christ (that means you) becomes willing to get out of the boat, you will experience a few victories. Remember, God’s unchangeable. It’s his will to heal. The one who heals is in you, and you have been commanded to heal. Go heal the sick, lay hands on them, got it? So when all that’s there and it really gets a hold of you, then you can take the risk and believe God wants to use you. Then God gives you an opportunity to stretch your faith.

You’ve got to make the phone call. You’ve got to step out of your house you’ve got to go to your co-worker. You got to tell them, “I’m going be praying for you.”

God has called all of us. He calls you and me to the risk of living in constant availability to his miracle presence. God has called all of us to be a people of expectancy, a people of power, who are moving whole-heartedly into whatever manifestation of his spirit he desires to give at that moment. We must put a demand on our faith and a demand on the anointing. We must contend for miracles. We’ve got to be willing to risk.

Acts 2:22 says, Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.  nasb

Key #1

Cultivate a strong desire and an unbending determination to discover and practice all that Christianity was meant to be.

What’s happening isn’t all that Christianity was meant to be today. How do I know? There is a blueprint? God always has blueprints. The building we meet in was built only after we had blueprints. We couldn’t have gotten a permit to do anything if we wouldn’t have shown the county what we were building. They never would have even let us get started without them.

The blueprint for the church of Jesus Christ is already given in the Book of Acts. That’s the blueprint of how the early church is to operate. When you study the Book of Acts, you will see a composite of what the church is to look like from the day of its beginnings—with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit they were going out and influencing their world.

The church today is supposed to look like the early church in the Book of Acts. In the Book of Acts one of the predominant things you’ll see is the manifestation of healing and miracles.

My question to you today is, are you one who hears the call of God and says, “I want you to begin to move in miracle ministry.” If so, then begin to use the first key to sustain a ministry of miracles in your life by cultivating a strong desire and an unbending determination to discover and practice Christianity.

Your hands have the power because Jesus is in your hands. And when you exercise that faith gift and you believe for it, God can flow through your faith. Why aren’t we doing it? Because we’re intimidated by the fear of what if something doesn’t happen? We think it’s our fault. You and I can’t heal anybody, anyway. We just simply have to do what the Word says and leave it with the One who wrote the Book.

He knew He could do what only He could do. He had the power within him to turn that water into wine and save the shame of an entire family. But in His heart, He knew something more. I believe He knew that in the natural there was nothing he could do yet, because He knew who He really was—He was God incarnate—then He could do anything he wanted to do. I think He knew all he needed to do was a miracle and a family could be saved, but he also knew the moment he performed his first miracle, it was over. 

Jesus is at a crossroads and He senses it. Have you ever sensed that something was about to shift in your life?  It’s not shifted yet, but you feel something. I believe that up to this point Jesus knew there was going to come the day when everything had to change—he had to stop being Mary’s son and become God’s sacrifice. There had to come a day when he stepped out of where he was into his destiny. When that clock starts and that shift is made and he made that left turn, there was no turning back.

There are those destiny moments that propel you and you know it’s never going to be the same again. When Jesus says my time has not yet come, it is written with a period but I believe in His mind it is a question mark. “My time has not yet come,” has it? Father is this the shift I have been feeling?  Is this the thing that you are going to do to propel me to my destiny and my purpose? 

Jesus is standing there. At that moment Mary is not understanding. She is probably thinking what’s going on with you? They don’t have any wine. I didn’t even ask you to do anything, but he knows what’s really going on. Mary didn’t react. And you have to be careful when you react to someone’s reaction that you misunderstand and flip out. Their response most likely has nothing to do with you. They may be reacting because God’s been dealing with them for 6-7 weeks  or months and then what you say reminds them that God’s been dealing with them. Your words remind them that they are not really ready to do what God’s been dealing with them about.

Or maybe it’s you that God has been dealing with. Is there something God wants you to do? Has your time come? Do you know what He wants you to do? Are you ready and willing to do what you need to do to embrace your destiny?

I have a passion for God to fill His house with His presence. When our church family took possession of the new building we call Victory Worship Center, we entered a new era. We entered a place where we were ready and equipped to possess new territories. We entered a season of signs and wonders, conquest and advancement for the Kingdom of God, and increase and influence in our city.

It’s just a building, but His presence is there every time we come together because He resides in us and works through us individually and corporately. It’s a bigger barn for a bigger harvest. There are more people waiting to hear what God wants to say to them through you.

You are called to touch a city with the love and life of Jesus Christ. He is the One real God—living and active in your life. As a believer you are a walking house, where the presence of God lives. You take Him—His power, His strength and His wisdom, all that He is—with you everywhere you go. And you can help others have a real experience—just like you have every day with the Almighty.

Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever;

and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

2 Chronicles 7:15-16 NKJV

This week, continue expecting to know His splendor and provision. Get a hold of it—get a real revelation of His presence and power in your life. Build your trust in Him—go to the Word of God for your situation.

Whatever you’re facing—find it in the Bible. (For example, if your dealing with depression–listen to how David talked to himself in Psalm 42. He struggled, admitting where he was at emotionally and in his thoughts because of his situation, but then he reminds himself—and God—that his hope is in Him and Him alone.)

I believe God continues daily to make himself known to you and you are going to know that He has already conquered whatever obstacle you’re facing. Keep your eyes open—you’re going to see something amazing this week.

Pastor Zane

I just wanted to write and encourage you today—reminding you of Sunday’s message—and what you need to do to strengthen yourself in the Lord. Remember, when your down and feeling defeated, the phone isn’t ringing with an encouraging word on the other end, no atta-boy emails, or anyone around to prop you up—it’s time to encourage yourself in the Lord.

On Sunday morning the Lord gave me a picture. I asked those who needed a fresh infusion of strength to hold up both hands and then imagine the Holy Spirit reaching them, connecting them to Him like you connect a car battery to jumper cables. Maybe you feel like your battery is drained. Right now, see the Holy Spirit hook you up and charge your spirit.

You’re going to make it! Summon your courage. Wake your courage up today!

Here are the 7 things I shared with you if you were with me in service Sunday—7 things you can do when you need a strength re-charge.

And again I encourage you to come with expectancy each time we gather. For every time we gather in His Presence, indeed anything can happen.

I so appreciate the Altar and Healing Teams. You are such a blessing to VWC, and are such significant channels through which the Lord flows His healing power.

What is so exciting to me is the fact that we are beginning to understand that the Kingdom isn't relegated to a building on Sunday morning˜but that each of us are His Kingdom extended to the world around us.

So, with that in mind, I challenge you to go out and "be the Kingdom!"

You are such a wonderful congregation to pastor! The Lord has some surprises for you this week!

pz

“I was… ____________________, but Jesus… ______________________!

There was an overwhelming response from people coming forward and sharing with us what Jesus had done in their lives. It was powerful, emotional, moving and clear evidence that when we open our hearts to Jesus, he transforms us completely.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (niv)

How would you fill in the blanks? If you can, take a moment right now and reply.